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Mild cognitive impairment in the oldest old.
B Boeve1, J McCormick, G Smith
1Department of Neurology, Mayo Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA. bboeve@mayo.edu
Neurology
|February 13, 2003
Summary
This study investigated amnestic mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in individuals aged 90-100. Findings show cognitive and functional performance patterns in this oldest-old group mirror those in younger populations.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Aging
Background:
- Limited data exists on amnestic mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in the oldest-old (90-100 years).
- Previous findings on cognitive and functional status relationships may not apply to this extreme age group.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if amnestic mild cognitive impairment (MCI) occurs in the oldest-old.
- To examine if established relationships between functional status, neuropsychometric performance, and clinical diagnosis hold true in this population.
Main Methods:
- Comprehensive neurologic evaluations, neuropsychometric testing, and functional assessments were conducted on 111 residents aged 90-100.
- Subjects were classified as normal, amnestic mild cognitive impairment (MCI), or dementia using established criteria.
- Data analyzed included Record of Independent Living (ROIL), Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Dementia Rating Scale (DRS), Trailmaking Test (TMT), and Free and Cued Selective Reminding Test (FCSRT).
Main Results:
- Functional capacity (ROIL) was lowest in dementia, but not significantly different between MCI and normal subjects.
- Cognitive tests (MMSE, DRS, TMT-A) showed poorer performance in dementia compared to normal and MCI groups; no difference between normal and MCI.
- Memory assessments (FCSRT, DRS memory subtest) revealed significant differences across all three groups (normal, MCI, dementia).
Conclusions:
- The relationship between cognitive function, functional performance, and clinical diagnosis in the oldest-old (90-100 years) aligns with patterns observed in younger individuals.
- Amnestic mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is present in the oldest-old, and its cognitive and functional correlates are consistent with younger populations.